Dear Friends of Saint Ann Shrine,
From darkness to light – from death to life!
Christ is risen, alleluia! Happy Easter season to all! Let us celebrate and be glad! Resurrection is at the heart of God’s promise of eternal life to us. While we bask once again in the spring beauty and wonder of Mother Nature’s rebirth, the blooming flowers, the singing birds, the green grass and leaf-filled trees, we, the followers of Jesus and baptized in the name of the Triune God, also sense a renewal of God’s unconditional love for each of us and Jesus’ promise that where he is, we will ultimately be also.
In the mysterious workings of God’s divine mind, the Father sent his son Jesus to show us how to live our human life in a manner consistent with the expectations God has of us, his adopted children. Jesus took away the mystery and revealed the very heart of God, a Sacred Heart, full of grace and always open to helping others.
Jesus heroically took the sins of all humans upon his shoulders and presented them to his Father together with his mutilated body on the Cross for cleansing and forgiveness in his precious blood. We are forever grateful to Jesus for this sublime act of love which we remember and re-enact at every Eucharist and Holy Communion.
Furthermore, we are inspired by the dignity with which Jesus’ mother Mary handled her son’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. May we be energized to handle the messiness and heartaches of our daily lives with a similar patience and submission, qualities Mary undoubtedly learned from her mother Good Saint Ann, who is a guardian angel and patron saint to us all.
Everyone here at Saint Ann Shrine wish you a joyous Easter and keep you constantly in our prayers. We feel you are an extension of our Eucharistic family in St. Peter Julian Eymard, the founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. We always appreciate any financial help you may offer our religious community as we continue to care for our retired priests and brothers and educate future vocations to continue our mission.
Please include your prayer intentions on the reply slip. They will be included in the daily Shrine Mass.
May the healing power of Good Saint Ann and her grandson Jesus intercede for you always!
In Jesus, our Risen Lord,
Fr. Roger Bourgeois, SSS
Chaplain
*We invite you and your group to join us at Saint Ann Shrine for Daily Mass at 11:30AM, Monday-Friday (please call ahead for Holidays).
*The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament offers a daily devotion/reflection. If you’d like to receive this uplifting message, send an email to cee@blessedsacrament.com.
*Your loved ones can be remembered during Mass at Saint Ann Shrine. Call 440-449-2700 for details.
*Our Blessed Sacrament religious in Bethany and at Regina Health Center pray for you daily. Please let us know of any special intentions you’d like us to remember. The Blessed Sacrament Community supports you in prayer and Eucharist. You can submit your prayer though our website and request a candle to be lit for your special intentions at st-ann-shrine.org.
*We have Rosaries, Chaplets, Statues, Blessed Oil and Holy Water available for a donation. Contact Saint Ann Shrine at 440-449-2700 or visit our website at st-ann-shrine.org.
*If you are 70 ½ years of age or older, you can support Saint Ann Shrine or the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament through distributions from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Your IRA Charitable Rollover Gift may satisfy your annual required minimum distribution and reduce your taxable income. Consult your financial advisor for the most advantageous opportunities for you.
*The article below includes wonderful information and suggestions how you can support Saint Ann Shrine and the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament in ways that can benefit you and your philanthropic giving: https://www.fidelitycharitable.org/guidance/philanthropy/donating-retirement-assets-to-charity
*Please let us know if you would prefer to NOT receive a Thank You letter for your gift at 440-449-2700 or sgongos@blessedsacrament.com. Thank you for your generosity!
Posted on March 10, 2023 by Scott Gongos
